Transistor-based Electrically Tuneable Reactance Circuits for Metamaterial Transmission Linesg

Abstract:
Reconfigurable wireless transmission systems increasingly enable a more efficient use of radio and microwave frequency spectrum and their hardware. Under such circumstances tuneable devices hold a substantial meaning. Therefore, a novel approach, complementary to semiconductor-based or mechanical tuning, is introduced. It employs a transistor-based electrically tuneable reactance circuit, that enriches future reconfigurable RF designs through new degrees-of-freedom. Not only will tuneable capacitances be made possible but, more importantly, inductances. The latter possess an exceptional value as they are, due to the lack of integrated approaches, hardly available otherwise. We derive three basic statements aiding future design processes in the challenging trade-off between tuneability and performance, to simultaneously achieve wide tuning range, low loss, and high operational frequencies.